An IT director from Toronto called corporate life quits after doctors told him his son had an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disease with no cure. They said his boy would be paralyzed from the waist down by 10 and quadriplegic by 20. Dad liquidated his savings and teamed up with researchers working on a promising gene therapy. Years later, his son received the treatment and can now stand up.
How to take the perfect profile pic for social media sites
Your profile picture is more important than you might think. It’s your chance to make a good first impression on the world. That’s why you must know how to take the perfect profile picture for all your accounts.
Say you’re applying for a new job. Potential employers will run background checks on your social media presence. You need to have good pictures that show you at your best.
You might even want to run a check on yourself to get an idea of what other people are seeing. Here’s how to run a free background check on yourself. Here are a few ways to improve your LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram profile picture.
A few ways to look better on LinkedIn
This is incredibly important because it gives employers an idea of what you’ll look like at work. Choose a picture that shows how competent, influential and likable you are.
Not sure how that comes across in a picture? Just upload your LinkedIn profile picture to Photofeeler, a free picture rating website. Strangers will let you know how you come across.
Instead of uploading a picture with a toothy grin, take a professional photo with a slight smile. You want to look friendly without showing too much enthusiasm. Also, use a picture that has a blurred background so the person viewing your profile can focus on your face.
How to take the perfect profile picture for Facebook
Family shots are a great option. After all, Facebook is all about connecting with other people, so it makes sense to pick a photo of you with loved ones. Just make sure you’re the focal point of the picture.
Improve your look on Instagram
We recommend picking an action-oriented photograph. Show yourself doing something you love. For example, if you like surfing, show yourself riding those waves.
Instagram is more personal than LinkedIn and less family-oriented than Facebook. It’s okay to let your hair down a little. Just make sure you don’t get too comfortable, or you might put off employers.
15 out-of-the-box ways to make extra cash from anywhere
By now, you probably know that you don’t have to leave home to make money. After all, many companies sent employees home to work during the pandemic. But even if you aren’t a salaried employee, you can still make a living from the comfort of your own home.
Start 2025 right
💪 Focused on your health in the new year? Grab your supplies now!
- Not into going to the gym? A dumbbell set is perfect for at-home workouts.
- Walking is one of my favorite ways to move. Replace your worn-out sneakers — options for guys and gals.
- Get your protein on with an easy-to-use personal blender.
- Keep your calories in check with a food scale. This one has an app with a nutritional calculator.
- I love doing Pilates to get strong. Grippy socks are great and work for barre and yoga, too.
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🤝 I want to be your secret helper and mentor: I’ve been around tech forever. My business has thrived for over 20 years without debt or investors. If you have an issue, problem or question about your life or business, I’d love to help you. Ask me here on my site. I read every single note.
Thieves love old clunkers
Imagine two cars: a shiny new one fresh from the lot and your old reliable parked in the garage. Which one do thieves prefer? The old one, every time. Here’s why.
🦾 I love it when tech changes lives: A woman received the world’s first AI-powered bionic arm after being run over by two trains in London. Here’s how it works: Sarah thinks about a movement, then twitches her muscles and tendons in a sequence. Over time, the AI learns and recognizes patterns, eventually predicting her next move. Even cooler? She can control her grip intensity, from handling eggs to crushing a Coke can. Hit this link to watch her story on the BBC’s site.
‘Tis the season
This is the time of year I like to pull out all our coziest blankets. Then, I noticed a couple were getting ratty, so I went shopping …
- Furry, warm and lots of good color options, plus it’s 30% off!
- Not into fuzzy? This cotton cable-knit throw looks so comfy.
- A blanket you wear means no one will steal it when you get up for a snack.
- Food-themed blankets are hysterical — love the pizza and tortilla.
- This chunky chenille throw is so gorgeous you’ll want to leave it out year-round.
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80 years old
When the risk of getting cancer starts to decline. The risk is highest in our 60s and 70s, then it drops. Researchers studying lung cancer found a key protein, NUPR1, that behaves differently in older cells. I love reading about breakthroughs like this. I hate cancer.
Microsoft Quick Assist: I’ll bet you don’t know this tool’s built right into Windows 10 and 11. It makes it easy to share your screen with someone remotely, aka no installations needed (love that!). This is perfect in case you ever need to help someone — or get help from someone — on your PC. Steps here!
AirPods rake in over $18 billion a year: They’re on pace to outsell iPads, becoming Apple’s third-biggest product behind iPhones and Macs. Teenagers and young adults love ‘em most. Around 62% of Gen Zers own a pair. Psst, the AirPods Pro 2 are on sale (24% off). Perfect holiday gift for yourself.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Calling all trivia buffs: Did you know Barbados gained its independence in 2021? How about this? South Korea is smaller than Pennsylvania. Wild. Check out the CIA’s online World Factbook if you love geography or history … or to find trivia to stump your friends and fam.
Scammer ruins a 45-year marriage
What’s worse than your mom leaving your dad for a guy she met on Instagram? Finding out he’s a romance scammer and she knows — but she’s still in love. That’s what happened to Grant Inman. Now, the My Funeral Home Stories host is trying to help his mom see the truth.
Give your printer some love: Soak a piece of paper with rubbing alcohol (not too much and leave the edges dry), and run that through your printer’s roller. It’ll clean it right up.
“Man cave on wheels”: That’s how Steven Shao described his Cybertruck in a viral Facebook post. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Cybertrucks turn heads, and that’s the point. The dentist says “loneliness” drove him to drop $100,000 on the over-the-top vehicle no one can ignore. Over 40 other owners commented they felt the same, which explains so much …
🎖️ He’s not that into you: Officer Kagan Dunlap says his wife constantly gets messages accusing him of cheating on her. The good-looking Marine isn’t unfaithful. Romance scammers have been using his photos since 2015 to woo women around the world, and some victims have lost thousands of dollars to their tricks. Pro tip: Do a reverse image search on anyone who claims to “love” you but you haven’t seen them IRL.
Love a bargain
💸 Affordable doesn’t mean low quality. Let me prove it.
- Fancy-pants face masks for only $3 a pop. Then, put on this gloss that’s eerily similar to the $40 Dior lip oil for under $8.
- I got a $600 Dyson Airwrap with credit card points. If I was paying for it myself, I’d get the $31 Revlon version everyone loves instead.
- This could be your new favorite soup pot. Lodge’s Dutch ovens are just as nice as the Le Creuset versions and so much less money.
- Workout headbands for guys and gals. This big pack of 10 costs less than one from Lululemon.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Your to-do list won’t stand a chance: Use Mac’s free Automator app to do repetitive tasks. You can make a variety of workflows and applications. Here’s a full guide. If you’re a coder, you’ll love this!